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curriculum vitae

2012 Enter Akita International Univeristy, Global Studies Department 2014 Study abroad in Aarhus Univeristy Graduate School of Law, Denmark 2015 Project Based Learning Program, one month field work in Oregon State, United States 2015 Akita Sake Project Leader 2015-2016 Establisment of Regional Student Agricultural Interaction Project NGO 2016 Summer, Graduate Akita International University 2017 Enter University of Tokyo

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Research Plan

Keywords: remote sensing, forestry, rural resilience, NPO, Thailand, Landsat TM data, agroforestry

It is with no doubt that global warming is a major issue for all mankind today. Remote sensing is looked up upon as a effective tool for monitoring the forest and agricultural surfaces. Therefore, many of the present academic research are focused on the detection and estimation of areas and their carbon sequestrations. This method could be applied to agroforestry in developing countries. The mapping of agroforestry is crucial since for sustainable development planning should look at individual regions as a whole and include the various vegetation for both before the planning and after agroforestry is started in the area. In developing countries, agriculture is a major industry, however, the methodologies applied are not always, in fact for many cases, unfriendly tot he environment. Agroforestry is highly anticipated to become the next generation hope for more environmentally resilient land use. My definition of resilience is to change community behavior or systems without ignoring local voices, and transit to something more prepared for future disasters as well as adapting to new technologies.

Agroforestry is the combination of forestry and agriculture where land use mixes cropland and plantation of tree, and harvests profitable products. Not only does it prevent deforestation caused by mass land development for agriculture, but it contributes to the rise of the income of local farmers. At this moment, my research plan is yet determined, and therefore I cannot make a clear presentation of my contents. I will rewrite later

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Social Issues and the Research

Today, many communities suffer aging of their population, loss of young people to bigger cities, environmental issues, and so on. This is common in any developed countries and Japan is no exception. In my opinion, many of the so called “rescue plans” made by the authorities focused on the “sustainability” of these communities in terms of trying to maintain the same system within that. This is fine if it is to preserve the unique or the positive aspects of each communities that the people cherish and is also rising their well-being in a non-environmentally destructive strategy. However, despite looking at the bright-side of community preservation, many of these “rescue plans” maintain the very bedding of what made the communities start their downfall in the first place, sustaining the negative aspects. This is why I am eager to learn about rural resilience since, in my definition, resilience is the transformation of communities to prepare for future outcomes and disasters. By transformation, I not mean the complete change and ignoring of local perspective, but quite the opposite, as in finding the good parts of communities as well as the finding what each communities truly desire, and enhancing them for the benefit of the whole area including the nature. My master’s paper will focus on the use of remote sensing by application of Landsat TM data to measure individual community’s forest vegetation and usage, and then do fieldwork to investigate why changed has or has not occurred in the area. For my future goal, I wish to build my own NGO focusing on rural community resilience, and bring as much knowledge of not just remote sensing, but many means to use natural resources wisely. During my 3rd year in bachelors, I experienced a 1 month project based learning class where I went to the United States to experience firsthand how local NGOs can contribute to rural resilience. In the county I conducted my research, the forest has been shut down by the state due to the abiding of the Endangered Species Act back in the 70s. The people who lived were infuriated by the fact that their livelihood was taken away in order to save an endangered species of owls. It was a very American method that they would directly connect the separation of humans from nature will contribute to environmental protection. Poverty spread, and many locals were forced to leave their hometown. Today, after over 40 years, I saw the people live among and integrate with nature. This NGO which was built 15 years ago has greatly contributed to the rebuilding of the community. It focused on mainly 3 aspects; 1) strengthening the rural community, 2) investing in people and land, and 3) fostering the next generation. By using niche natural resources, such as wood that has been categorized as “scrap” before and turning it into luxury firewood, they created many new local products as well as employment. Their way of willing to tackle issues in a multidimensional method by gathering various experts of diverse fields inspired me to pursue my academic career, and gradually landing in GCL.

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GCL Plan

My aim for FY2017 is to plan my research trip to Thailand, and if possible to the United States. I am very interested in community resilience NGOs, and am willing to continue my research back from my bachelor years